As much as we might not like to admit it at times, homeowners associations have rules and regulations in place for a reason. Mostly, they are for community safety and structure. If you find yourself questioning whether your HOA has the authority to regulate a certain item or action, check its governing documents and bylaws, as well as your state and local laws. If you’re a board member, you need to realize the importance of clear, coherent rules and governing documents, in order to avoid misunderstandings and disputes.
CC&Rs
To get this guide started, it’s important to understand what is in place that gives the HOA the power to act in the first place; this begins and ends with the CC&Rs. The Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs) dictate the rules or restrictions the owners of the land must follow in all homeowners associations (HOA), property owners associations, and community associations. The CC&Rs are said to “run with the land,” meaning that the restrictions for the property are in place no matter who owns the property.
The DCCRs include specific guidelines for such items as yard maintenance, basketball hoops, noise, pets, parking, vehicle storage, and general nuisances.
The CC&Rs also list in detail the association’s covenant for assessments. This covenant gives the association the right to charge dues to each of its members, and lists the consequences for non-payment. Oftentimes, the HOA can enforce these rules through their HOA management company. The guidelines for establishing and executing the architectural control committee are also included in the CC&Rs. All of these items are vital to an association and ensure that the association is always maintained and well kept by your HOA management company or Board of Directors.
When a homeowner purchases a home in a community with a mandatory homeowners association, they must sign documents that state that they have been told that the property they are purchasing has rules and restrictions. It’s important to read through the CC&Rs and be aware of all of the rules of the neighborhood before purchasing a house in a mandatory HOA.
The ARC
Now, while the CC&Rs provide the outline for how the community is run, it is The Architectural Review Changes committee that is responsible for ensuring that any changes to the exterior of the homes conform to the standards set by the governing documents, such as the CC&Rs and bylaws, making them one of the most important committees established in any HOA. They also ensure that no exterior modifications will be approved that will negatively impact the appearance of the community. In other words, if a community member wishes to, say, paint their house, and your CC&Rs have a provision giving the board and ARC control over such an action, it is the ARC who will approve or deny said structural improvement. Your HOA management company’s responsibilities include assisting your community with ARCs.
As board members and even HOA management companies change over the years, it’s vital to have the ability to review alterations, as well as have a modicum of control over these improvements so the community can continue to aspire to the image its residents desire. If alterations to a home occur without HOA approval, the board needs to take appropriate action to follow up, and a hearing should possibly be conducted. These kinds of regulatory procedures not only help to preserve order in the community, but allow the freedom for reasonable modifications to the homes.
The Powers of the Board and ARC
As you can see, the powers of these two governing bodies are far reaching and quite substantial; but, just how far do they go? Fortunately for board members—and unfortunately for homeowners, in some cases—these powers go as far as the CC&Rs allow; in other words, they are almost limitless when it comes to the appearance of the neighborhood.
Many of the rules that you’ll see outlined in the CC&Rs that the Board of Directors has the power to enforce have to do with lawn maintenance. The CC&Rs list general rules for the maintenance of community members’ lawns, including mowing, edging, weed removal, watering, removal of dead trees and plants, and replacing dead grass. Additionally, if you live in a gated community, your association owns the streets, and specific rules regarding parking must be in place for proper enforcement (this is why many HOAs are able to dictate where you can and cannot park).
Specific guidelines about what types of vehicles can be stored on the property are also often addressed in the CC&Rs. Boats, trailers, broken down vehicles, tractors or other recreational vehicles that are parked in the driveway are unsightly and can ruin property values over time.
Other rules may have to do with the care, noise level, and overall maintenance of pets. The CC&Rs normally list which types of domestic animals and how many (generally two dogs and two cats) can be kept on a lot. Also, most CC&Rs mention that animals must be confined to the owner’s lot or on a leash at all times. And these are just some of the rules you may encounter. When it comes to changing the exterior of their home, there can be even more.
In fact, one of the most common complaints we hear from HOA management homeowners concerns the difficulty of being able to paint their house in the color and fashion they want.
People who hate the very existence of any HOA will say that it’s insane that you have to get approval in order to paint the outside of the property that YOU own. And, while that’s a popular complaint against the idea of a homeowners association, it’s also one of the most common issues that homeowners associations have to deal with.
For example, when you come home from work one day and your neighbor has decided to change their home from a sandy color to a bright green, you might have a negative reaction. It could dramatically affect you and your community’s property values. Now, all of a sudden, this has become a major issue for you and your other neighbors. At this point, you will be glad that you live in a homeowners association that can take action and protect your investment from the person next door.
So, what if you want to change the color of your home, not to some radical color, but just a slight adjustment? Well, the best place to start is by calling your HOA management company. Get in contact with your community manager and ask them what steps you need to take in order to get your paint proposal approved.
Common Areas
The common areas of a community association also fall under the jurisdiction of the HOA. These areas are of the utmost importance for any HOA, as they are where your association members will spend time in and share together. That’s why it’s necessary that you keep your common areas maintained, and encourage members to do the same. You may come across members who have no courtesy for the community common areas. In such cases, it’s wise to have specific rules in place for members who use the common areas.
Bothersome members in your community association (such as those who are overly noisy or leave their personal belongings in common areas) are detrimental to the harmony of your HOA. Community members must be reminded that these common areas belong to the community as a whole, and that they need to be responsible for their actions.
Your association members may be confused as to what exactly is considered a common area. In order to ensure that everyone is on the same page, define for your members what a common area is. Common areas consist of stairwells, hallways, laundry rooms, lobbies, basement and roof areas, courtyards, pathways, lawns, and any areas with community amenities, such as fitness centers, pools, and sport courts.
Once you’ve made certain that there isn’t any ambiguity over which areas constitute common areas, ban your members from leaving trash and/or laundry in those areas. Members may leave their trash out in the hallways to take to designated community trash bin at a later time, but this action is not being courteous of other members within the community. It’s important for members to know that repeated instances of this behavior will not be tolerated.
Association members should never leave any of their personal belongings in common areas, but if they do, your HOA must reserve the right to remove those items yourself. Whether it’s a bike attached to a railing or a bushel of children’s toys scattered across a lawn, having these items in the common areas is not only an eyesore, but hazardous to other members of the community.
Common area rules need to ban members from causing a nuisance in your community common areas. Nuisances include loud noises, inappropriate clothing, anti-social behavior, running, riding skateboards or bikes in the street, and playing music without wearing headphones.
Make sure you let your members know that they are also responsible for the actions of their tenants and guests. If a tenant or guest of a member violates the common area rules, the member will be held accountable for those actions.
Managing the Playground
Playgrounds, like common areas, are yet another part of the community which the Board has power over, or should have if it does not. After all, a playground can be a hazard, especially if children are unsupervised or if the equipment isn’t properly used or maintained. If injuries occur, the association could end up getting sued.
Although your association is responsible for the basic upkeep of playground equipment, HOAs aren’t generally responsible for supervising children at the playground. Through the playground rules, make parents aware that they should be supervising their children at all times. Inform members that they must ensure that their children use the playground equipment as intended to reduce the risk of injury. On that note, be sure to ban children from rough play, shoving, and fighting on the playground, as well as throwing rocks, sand or other objects.
It’s also a good idea to set reasonable hours for playground use, such as 8:00am until dusk or other times that correspond with daylight. Most community managers will suggest closing the playground area during stormy weather; playground equipment can be slippery when wet, causing accidents as a result.
If your community’s playground has an asphalt or blacktop surface, don’t let children roller-skate, in-line skate, skateboard or ride bicycles in the playground. These items could cause injury that the association may be liable for. Pets should also be banned from playground areas, as they can pose a danger to children and also use the sandbox as a bathroom.
Although your association is not required to supervise children at the common area playgrounds, your HOA is responsible for making sure that the equipment is safe and follows the consumer product safety guides. Some HOA management companies will send community managers to the playground at least once a month to review the equipment and call in a vendor to perform an inspection and make repairs as necessary.
Can Your HOA Access Your Property?
With all these rules, the board of directors may be starting to seem like a little too powerful, even for board members who are just out to keep their community in line. So, just how far is an association permitted to go in the name of regulation? Many people view their HOA as desirable organizations that prevent property values from dipping too low. However, others are uncomfortable with the idea of their HOA overstepping its bounds and invading their personal privacy, particularly by entering their property.
If you’re wondering whether your HOA has access to a homeowner’s property, the first action you should take is to check the homeowners association’s agreement or bylaws. Within those legal documents, the homeowner should be able to determine what rights are granted to the association explicitly. It’s not unheard of for an association to change rules without any warning or notification to members. In other words, what may have been passable before may become a citation-worthy offense, without the homeowner knowing until it’s too late.
Additionally, just because a term is not stated in black in white doesn’t mean the homeowners association doesn’t have the right. The property owner should carefully read the agreement before ever signing, to determine if the document gives the association any implied rights.
For example, the bylaws may state that the property owner’s presence within the neighborhood gives implicit consent for the homeowners association to come onto the property, whether the owner is home or not, for the purpose of inspection or complaint investigation. In the event the association initiates communication regarding an inspection and the homeowner denies access, the implicit consent clause lets the association onto the property whether the homeowner consents or not. That being said, they cannot force themselves through the front door against the owner’s will; they would only be able to inspect the exterior of the property. However, if the homeowners association has a copy of the key to the home, they can enter the home as they see fit.
Another example in which your HOA may enter the homeowner’s property is if a tenet of the association agreement has been violated. Perhaps the owner has broken a rule regarding outside decor or lawn ornamentation. If the owner fails to respond to citations by the association, he or she may be subject to fines or an unwanted visit from the homeowners association. While the association cannot harass the property owner, they can enforce the rules of the association code.
Unenforceable Rules
Running a community association takes a lot of work, so sometimes HOA management companies may overlook changes in state, federal, or local laws. When changes in laws regarding homeowners associations occur, it’s important to reflect these changes in your rules.
If your current rules contradict current laws, those rules become unenforceable, and even worse, you could be breaking the law. HOA management companies must look through the governing documents to make sure certain rules aren’t included to avoid problems. There are three rules often seen in community association governing documents that violate laws; it’s your responsibility to read through your documents to make sure these rules aren’t included.
The first rule for HOA management companies to look for in the governing documents is any rule barring children under a certain age from using the community pool. Obviously, children are more likely to be involved in pool accidents that could be a liability for the association, which makes it tempting to ban them from the pool area completely. Do not ban children from your community pool. Banning children from the community pool violates the federal Fair Housing Law, and you could be responsible if a lawsuit were to occur.
The second rule to keep out of the governing documents is any rule that bans the use of satellite dishes. This is America, and we love our televisions. By federal law, you cannot ban a member from installing and using a satellite dish. However, you can enforce a rule stating the dish cannot be more than one meter in diameter.
The third rule, being a state law, is for the use of solar panels. An association cannot ban the installation and use of solar energy panels. Even if you find them unsightly, they are here to stay. It’s also against the law to make rules in order to make the process of installing solar panels too difficult or expensive for members.
Know the Rules, Improve your Community
When all community and board members understand the governing documents, rules, and restrictions of your HOA, it’s much easier for everyone to follow those regulations. Just make sure that your HOA’s rules do not overstep any boundaries outside of their control, and you should find fewer complaints over the rules.
For help managing your community, contact Spectrum Association Management today and see why our HOA management services are top rated.
How do I learn about if it is legal for HOA to limit visitor parking spots to 48 hours ? Living in Hawaii, it takes my friends more than 48 hours to fly here. Why can’t they visit me for a week ?
Good question. Each HOA has their own governing documents. In all likelihood such a limitation would be allowable. This is a great reminder to always read documents carefully before joining an association. Once you are in a community, you’ve agreed to live by the rules. However, contact your management company for a clearer description of exactly what is going on in your community. If you believe the rule isn’t enforceable, consider attending the next board meeting. You never know, they me be open for a change. Good luck.
How do you legally enforce a HOA by-law that has been broken.
Your association should have a policy for enforcement. First step would be to notify your board and/or management company if you have one. Thanks Donald
What if Board members discriminate against you because you blew the whistle on them for not resigning when their terms expired and extending their terms for a year on their own. Nothing in the Bylaws & CC&R’s allowed for this. They claim they can now ban me for life from HOA meetings. HELP!
Hi Scott,
Sounds like a tricky situation. I wish you didn’t have to get an attorney involved but it might be the only way for you to straighten this one out. In the meantime, maybe you can talk to a board member who isn’t part of this group if one in fact exists. I wish I could provide a clean answer for you, but it doesn’t seem like there is one without more information. best of luck to you!
What if my HOA has stopped enforcing rules? Bylaws state weed removal, as well as no sheds or privacy fences. But people are doing this and the board is doing nothing. I have sent them a request to enforce, but they decline. This my property value at stake
Hi Steve,
Tough situation. Have you considered getting on the board? The board does have an obligation to enforce your documents consistently. However, it is often tough to see what they are doing because they don’t have to share what enforcement actions they are taking against other homeowners. Just like they don’t share your account specific information with the rest of the community. I would definitely get involved if it is an important issue to you!
I Live in a Dead End Street. My CC&R says, NO PARKING SPACES, all vehicles should park only infront of their Garage. But but now HOA wants to change it. And have that No Parking Spaces removed. It’s unfair on my side, because i have half of the road to get in and get out of my home. While this car of my neighbor, blocking my access going to my home. Should i file a case on my HOA. If i sell my house it will be hard because the buyer will see that car when they want to look on my home.
Sounds like a tough situation Lao. This is why everyone should be involved in their community as you are. This way you know what is going on and can be a part of the conversation about the governance of your community. There are so many variables with your situation that we can’t comment particularly, but please read all governing documents carefully, determine if they are private streets and then maybe, you can have an attorney draft an opinion letter, but that expense is probably your last resort.
How can I petition paying the fees for when I sale my home? My HOA has’nt had a meeting in three years and we never see any upkeep of our subdivision. So I don’t think it’s fair to pay them when I sale my home.
Can an HOA start changing and amending our CC&R’s with the assoc attorney paying so far &10,000 and never bring up this matter to the assoc meetings. Shouldn’t this is sure be brought up at an assoc meeting with homeowners. Should this be a surprise when we have to vote on this issue
If CC&R’s are incorporated and signed and recorded by the state, can a department within the state enforce any of the violations?
Hi Marie
Not typically. They can enforce their own code and rules, but only the association can enforce association rules. However, if it is an issue where there is an overlap, local officials may be able to help in their area of responsibility.
Do I have the right to view my neighbors ARC approval after it has already been approved.
Hi Carla,
Probably not. They can share it with you if they wish, but a board and the management company should not share records about individual properties with other neighbors. You probably wouldn’t want your account information shared with others and so all neighbors get the same protection.
What kind of jobs can a handyman employed by an HOA perform and at what point does he/she need a license?
I wish to replace my 28 year old aluminum windows which have black frames with vinyl windows that are the same color as the outside surface of the condo building. The Rules & Regulations & Architectural Standards under “WINDOW REPLACEMENT” state: Metal or vinyl frames are permitted but must match or blend with exterior surfaces. In May 2016 a newly formed Architectural Committee changed the guidelines requiring all frames to be bronze or black. Does this committee have authority over the Rules & Regulations? There are currently 31 condos in the community that have installed vinyl windows with the light color frame.
Good question, one in which I don’t have enough information for. I suggest you contact your ACC specialist at your management company for advice related to your specific question and your community.
U want to know if is legal to place decorative rocks on grass of community to avoid vehicles destroying the grass U have seen rocks in vulnerable sites in other communities We ha not side blocks and large vehicles are driving ever the grass We just spent a lot of money enhancing the green areas but we cant control the large vehicles driving over the grass only placing rocks
Hello sir,
If I understand what you are asking, then what you can do on your personal yard is up to the standards of the community. You can always request the governing documents. Ideally, these are conveniently housed for you on your community website. If you are talking about common areas then it would be up to your board and/or the landscaping committee with oversight from the board. Best of luck
Are HOA’s typically held responsible for maintaining perimeter safety path and boardwalks? If not which municipalities in Michigan and the USA require this?
If you live in/own a condo and your patio slab was poured incorrectly (no rebar or reinforcement) and without permits or Architectural Review or permission, (by previous owner) and then same patio starts to crack and raise due to oak tree roots from tree in common area, can your HOA tell you ‘sorry, the problems with (unapproved) patio is your ‘inherited problem? HOA states ‘no information’ on prior owner’s architectural submission or who contractor was, etc. Is there supposed to be records/permits kept by HOA on everything that is done to an individual unit? Thank you.
Good question Amy, probably one you need a lawyer for. Typically you inherit the property as is and you are responsible for bringing your property into compliance. Such records should be kept but may or may not be required by law, depending on how the record is classified and your jurisdiction.
How can the HOA regulate the length of time construction equipment is brought on to a home site and when it is removed. We have a problem with builders starting a project and then stopping for days or weeks at a time leaving bulldozers, derricks, etc. onsite. Our homeowners have to look at these unfinished sites.
Hi Glen,
You are right, it is a challenge. Like most things the association follows what is in the documents or create a resolution or rule to enforce against unfinished job sites. Often times, the developer is the board and they want to balance the construction crew’s needs with the homeowners. A lot just depends on your situation. Thanks for the question.
When a board has the authority to establish rules®s, is there a time frame for when the rule goes into effect for the enforcement of the rule, or can it be “effective immediately”. Thanx all
They will typically outline a timeline. If not, then it would likely depend on your state. Some states require the association to file resolutions with the state to provide legal notice of the changes, but each state has their own requirement. Good question and the answer, like many questions of this type is, it depends.
Is HOA able to tell a homeowner they can’t have a company truck in the parking lot?
We have an owner who sold their house, but just before leaving painted the trim and front color bright turquoise without approval Clearly the color is not in accordance with the DCCRs which require that colors be in harmony wtih existing homes and colors. Now the new owner says he isn’t responsible for complying at all.since he bought the house with that color so he can’t be held responsible as he wasn’t the one that painted it. Its awful and ruins the look of the street.
My HOA doesn’t allow ‘in ground’ basketball hoops. Only portable ones that have to be put away at night and when not in use. We have a ton of kids in neighborhood and are constantly putting this up and away and damaging them. My question is, do I have any laws that can help me fight the HOA on putting an inground hoop up? Just curious on how far I should take this fight. Crazy question and thanks for the help.
Jacoby
If covenants pertaining to fences are changed, can the HOA force you to change your fence? Fence was installed by previous owners so it was in place when we purchased the house. It is wood on the front but chain link on the other three sides. They are currently in the process of changing the covenants to state that fences must be wood or vinyl.
I am on an Architectural Control committee of our HOA. Some of the properties in the association border a public lake. Some on the committee want to make rules stricter than the state (DNR) rules about the design of docks members might install in the lake. However, the lake is 100% public and has a public landing. The CCR language says that the Association can regulate “the Lots and improvements thereon”. There is nothing in the covenants about regulating the lake, only the Lots. The plats for the properties in the Association (common and private) do not include the lake. I have doubts about whether we can make and enforce rules on public property (the lake) when the Agreement with our members (the CCRs) does not include the lake. The state defines the boundary of the lake as the Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM). My inclination is to say we can only regulate any portion of the dock that might overhang the Lot (ie inland of the OHWM) and we can regulate off-season storage of dock parts on the Lot, but we can’t regulate the physical design of the dock as installed in the public lake waterward of the OHWM as that would infringe the members’ riparian rights to build a dock per state standards, rights they did not agree to have limited when they signed onto the CCRs since the CCRs do not mention the lake as under HOA control. Thoughts?
Can an HOA change the CC&R without your agreeance on tye new rules and then hold you fines against the new rules if we signed a copy of the CC&R when we bought the house and were not in violation before the new rules were instated.
For clarity, we purchased a home a year ago in a community with an HOA unfortunantly for them, they had ZERO rules against poultry, so I proceeded to move my chickens onto the property in accordance with county laws for our residential zone. It seems as if some people have had their panties in a wad about this because we have had unknowns trespassing on our property and looking into the shed where the chickens are kept, people parking at our curb (on a culd-a-sac) and taking notes, etc.
Neother the shed nor the chickens were against any HOA or county laws prior to the new managment groul taking over. Now we recieved a newsletter in the mail from the new managment group, initiating new rules and regulations, all of which are VERY detailed, like weirdly overly detailed. Two of the new regulations put the placement of my shed, and my chickens against the rules now. The shed, and placement of thr shed was approved by default by the old managment company because they did not respond within 90 days.
Thank you!
I would also like to know if an HOA can change the CC&R and then force a third of the homeowners to replace or install fencing along the outside of their property. This has never been a rule for the last 30+ years since the rules were written.
I live in a very small waterfront community with a hoa. The homes are normally under 1200 Sq ft and single story. Our hoa needs help with wording of an ammendment that will restrict any new construction to that of similar size and siting. Hope you can help.
Sandy McQueen
Riviera, Texas
Our By-laws allow personal ornamentation on the berm in front of units. There are clear prohibitions of want is NOT permitted, such as spinners, flags or ornaments with moving parts. There is also a rule that states, the Board reserves the right to review and request the removal of any ornament it deems inappropriate. A new Board was elected and suddenly, ornaments that have been in place for many years, are being deemed as inappropriate. It is my contention that there is no such thing as a magic “deeming” wand that can be waved while reciting the words, “I deem this ornament inappropriate.” In order to be enforceable, I feel the Board must have objective criteria for deeming an ornament inappropriate. What say you?
Our HOA CC&R’s do not state that sheds are restricted. I would interpret the omission as therefore allowing them. The CC&R’s require a 67% membership vote to change.
The recent HOA Board created an amendment in the Bylaws stating that sheds are not permitted. The Bylaws are able to be changed by the board at any time.
Is this legal? Can the HOA create a shed restriction in the Bylaws and not the CC&R’s?
We have an HOA stating that we cannot have sheds. Our neighbor has a shed and you can see it from the street. Ours can be seen from the street as well. If one neighbor has a shed why can we not have a shed.
Does a resident of a Texas HOA have the right to inspect ALL ACC requests? From other residents? From new builder spec houses, already approved plans from the ACC?
Can the HOA penalize me for not registering my daughter that move in with me. She lived with me in this house when I move, got married and now move in with me. They want me to register her like if I was renting the house to her. Is this allowed?
I have been notified by my HOA that I should remove a basketball hoop from my driveway, that I need to cart it away after every use. I think this an awful rule, and should be revised. Hoops promote exercise and my community has NO playground areas outside of the club house. Kids under 14 CANNOT get into the club house without parental presence. That means that when we can’t take our kids to the clubhouse, they can’t play basketball! My 13 year old plays a lot of basketball, hence the problem. The hoop is TOO heavy for him or for mom to move it, and frankly, it’s ridiculous to assume it will be moved each time. I’ve counted 25 homes with hoops in their front driveway, and when I confronted the HOA secretariat (at the clubhouse) about it, they said I can take the complaint to the HOA but I would loose. They said everyone’s been notified, and that some have been fined, and some are in collections for fines. Are there cases of litigation against HOAs for hoops? I feel outraged and want to keep it. It’s nice. It’s clean, it’s pleasant and having one shows our neighborhood values kids, exercise and good health! What should I do?
We have a situation in our HOA where a renter is letting his two dogs defecate in their patio area and cleaning it up when they get home from work. One neighbor who lives next door s complaining bitterly to the point of taking pictures over their fence into the dog owners’s patio area as proof that the offending neighbors are not cleaning up as required. What exactly are the rules on this? I am very hesitant to get involved as there is bad blood between these two now. The complainant is now asking the HOA to develop guidelines that would prevent people with dogs from renting. What is your take? Thanks
Can you create a separate set of rules outside the CCRs that are enforced, binding and have consequences?
Can a HOA keep a home owner fro installing temperary window units in there home until an air conditioner unit inside the home can be repaired or replaced?
At two Unit condo.
Renter’s Children playing on one and only driveway access into our units, and children are riding skateboards, speeding down the driveway on the bicycle. Renter’s friends and neighbor who does not live here bring her boy to practice how to ride the scooter on our
driveway. Children climbing on and causing wall to break down the stuccos on the wall are cracked .
The owner of Unit ignoring all the issues .
What can we do?
Can an HOA form a binding contract with a cable company to prevent others into the community? I had Spectrum but want to switch to WOW! but can’t because our community is “under contract” which to me violates free market and doesn’t give us any options to have cheaper, more affordable cable and internet.
I have a rather unique question. I am the neighbor to a property development going in next door. I currently have an irrigation easement through the center of their property. They are planning to install a new irrigation system along the outside perimeter of their property and want me to sign away my current easement in exchange for a new one. My current easement is 20′ wide and they are proposing a 15′ easement. I told them I would agree if they (the future HOA) would take responsibility for any repairs or maintenance to my irrigation system until it reaches my property. The developer agreed. What verbiage needs to be in the CCR’s to ensure that this need is met? Is it enforceable to sue a HOA if one is not a member of the HOA?
At what point in time does a child’s screaming, yelling, crying, screeching along with the parents become a noise nuisance? My neighbors next door (condo, we have a shared wall) have this type of noise going on for 10-12 hours a day and our property management company keeps telling me it is normal noise from those who have children. The child is 2 1/2 years old and does not know how to use an “indoor voice” and is allowed to make all sorts of disturbing noises throughout the day.
For an home improvement violation, at what point HOA attorney is involved
I live in MN. I live in a small (38 home) single family home development, with an association.
There is a HOA bylaw that states ‘simply ‘
-No one is allowed to run a business from/work from their home for profit or otherwise.
There is a mention of no signage posting and large signs, and alteration of the ‘building’ home, and i totally understand that! But telling homeowners that they are not allowed to use there own personal homes for a small business to simply make a living, this is legal????
Please help!!
Any idea what is the maximum fine / penalty for a late fee an HOA can charge in Texas. We have one charging 10% per MONTH! and next month will charge it again including last month’s late fee. It is over 200% APR!
Hi Tim!
I would encourage you to review the documents of your association. All charges levied by an association must be provided for in the declaration or supplemental declarations. Most associations have language allowing the association to recover the costs of collection, as well as interest which is at most 18% per annum. Some documents provide an additional late fee for non-payment. There is not currently a statutory maximum on late fees, but it has been a topic of discussion in legislation.
I hope this provides some help Tim!
I ask before I bought in my new subdivision if there would be any rental property in the development. I was told No in our covenant it state : all homes must be used as single family home . However there are several Renters in our neighborhood.
Am buying a new home and, nearly at closing, found out covenants prevent a shed in my back yard which is enclosed by a 6′ fence. I find this somewhat annoying as the garage is just big enough for our two vehicles. I’d like a place to store our two hand push lawnmowers and other assorted items. Is there any workaround with this such as a “removable” plastic shed or storage space?
We have a someone wanting to build a 2 story detached garage with upstairs storage. It is meets all the guidelines but concern was brought up about it being 2 story our documents do not say it has to to 1 story only it has to be LIKE the existing residence. Can it be declined??
My mother has had her trash can beside her home on a concrete pad for 13 years. Today, she received a letter advising to move it or else. Can they truly enforce after 13 years?
Is the covenant of HOA recorded some where in the county?and people who have signed covenant should live in neighborhood? How do I find out if the HOA in my area is legal?
I had a 5 foot cable securely installed on the side of my home into my garage for ATT internet. A year later the HOA sent a violation notice stating the cable needed to be removed or buried underground. Is this legal after it has already been in place for a year?
My OLD bylaws for a community water assn. state that membership may be held and owned only by ‘incorporators’. All the original ‘incorporators are dead. Their property has been sold to other people many times over and one incorporator subdivided his property into 10 other lots. The 5 people living on the ‘incorporators’ original homes claim only they can be members and keep reelecting themselves to the board, denying all other water shareholders (who must pay equal assessments and annual fees) a vote and a voice. How do we convince those 5 that since they are not ‘originators’ and that all water shareholders with water deeded to their property through short plats of the original ‘originator” are valid members and thus entitled to a vote?
What if the association does not have a specific rule for what I’m wanting?
Can an HOA limit when or what you can do with properties. I live in a HOA that is recreational with some homes. They decided they didn’t like full time home owners living in the recreational area. So they put a full or part time resident status on the parcel. If you choose to change your status there is a 250,000 inpact fee to change part time resedential to full time. The inpact fee does not go into roads or improvements it’s just to stop the building of full time resedential homes.
we are going through a very difficult time with our current board. The Enterprise has taken full control and the board members have just become to yes people. my concern is that the president has set up a committee to develop new by-laws and has made a the members sign a confidentially statement prohibiting members from discussing with any residents what is taking place and in addition, will not provide minutes of the meetings nor are the meetings announced (other than for members), and residents are not permitted to attend the meetings. Isn’t this in violation of the Fl. Sunshine Laws?
Very frustrated….Bob Leidner
Hi there Dr. Leidner,
Florida Sunshine Laws are a series of laws designed to guarantee that the public has access to the public records of governmental bodies in Florida. The law was first enacted in 1995. The Sunshine Law, however, is not generally applicable to a private association unless the association has been delegated the authority to perform some governmental function. We operate in Texas and Arizona, so check out your governing documents and also Florida law as it pertains to Homeowners Associations and committee meetings to see if anything is amiss.
I hope this helps!
I have been wanting to put a shed up in my backyard. It took my HOA 31 days to get back to me but I was finally approved. My handyman who will be installing it has been so busy he has not given me a date as to when he can lay the slab and get the shed up. I have 6 days left before I have to resubmit to have the shed put up. What happens if I do not get up until the after the 30 days and I do not resubmit? I have been trying to get it up.
Hi there,
ACC requests that are approved often do not have a time frame associated to them as the CCR’s fail to address the issue or the design guidelines. Some HOAs may highlight as little as 60 days to 1 year. Try reaching out to your HOA or reviewing your governing documents to see what your construction timelines are, if any.
Our subdivision gates are on our property as we are the first home in the neighborhood, and the plat shows that our property includes that area. My question is if work is done on that area, are we the person liable if someone is hurt doing this work? Is there a way to make this our neighborhood’s liability, if so?
Issues involving liability are complicated and in order to make any determination on the question multiple sets of documents (governing documents, deeds, plats, contracts with vendors, etc.) would have to be reviewed. Unfortunately, there is no short or easy answer for a question like this. We would encourage you to contact a legal professional to assist you in making such a determination.
If the city allows boats parked on the side of your house but the hoa says no boats, how can the hoa enforce any fines against me?
Can the HOA place a variance on your property without telling you? Because you painted it without getting color approved first, although they decided to approve the color, they did so with a stipulation that a variance be put on the property where if sold, the new owner has to repaint the house. Do they have to notify the current owner of the variance?
I have a very small yard, classic field as 1/3 acre, but the lot is 90 wide. Had a nice, small shower de yard and all of the utilities are on my side yard, yesterday Comcast installed a bid 4 by 6 bos abd a 5 and 1/2 foot high square post with an electric meter on it. It has completely destroyed my yard and I have no recourse, but I am sore that my 180,000 dollar home has dropped by a minimum of 25,000. I have going to appeal my county taxes during the 30 day period. I have pictures of it and it reall looks bad.
Who can I write to besides the county board.
I do not feel the house is even sellable but am going to put it on the market again this week. No one can believe what Cmcast has been allowed to do.
Is there anything that I can do?
We own two lots, one of which is a drain field split lot 2/3 used for reserve and primary for neighboring lot drain field and 1/3 our lot drain field… Our HOA charges us dues assessments for both lots, because we are the legal owner of the lot. My concern is it is a non buildable lot and 2/3 used by a neighboring lot. What can I do? We are not also paying double assessments for entrance and exit gates to be replaced.
Today I was cleaning my grass and the HOA Inspector took a picture of me while i was standing in my grass right in front of my home.Is that Legal.???
Hi there,
The HOA site inspectors primary responsibility is to monitor compliance with the association’s deed restrictions. If you have questions regarding your associations deed restrictions, please contact your property management company.
Thank you.
My HOA claims they can determine if the condition of my garage is neat and tiddy and not “converted into a storage unit”.
I have one vehicle parked in my garage with plenty of room on each side and packed boxes on PART of the other side. My previous home was destroyed by Harvey so I moved into this smaller house. I will eventually find places inside or give away the contents of the boxes. In my good time. There’s no more room in my attic. I received a violation notice with 30 days to correct the issue. I do not leave my garage door open other than entering and exiting. HOA states the condition of my garage affects the “aesthetic appeal and economic value of the community “. All community gagares are down alley’s. Even though I only have one vehicle that I park in the garage can my HOA enter my property and make a decision that I have “Converted” part of my garage as a storage unit”. I would have to go through the extra expense of renting a storage unit for a few boxes. So my question is can they enter my garage if I’m inot here and can they force me to eliminate those boxes in their designated 30 days.
Seems Texas Law allows for privacy in one’s right to utilize the interior property as they see fit as long as it’s not a dangerous situation.
HOA Deed restrictions state I can’t “Convert one’s garage into a storage unit”.
Do Texas laws allow for my property to be used as I see fit if the situation is not a dangerous situation. Texas Law usurps HOA rules.
Read your HOA documents, you would have had to sign them when you closed on your property if you own it, and if you rent it you are still responsible to comply and your landlord should have provided them to you before you moved in. Our HOA documents have a similar rule, it is written as you may not use your garage for any purpose that would prevent the parking of two standard sized vehicles in it
Can an HOA change the Covenants to restrict the sale of property to a company in the business to rent homes? Even if the majority signs and agrees?
Can a HOA with a marina start charging $1000.00 in addition to the established fees already paid to stay on one’s boat if we purchased the boat to stay at the coast in Oregon.
Can an HOA charge a fee for submitting alteration requests?
I received a letter from the HOA stated that it has been once again been reported to management that my tenant is still parking two vehicles in the parking lot, despite only having one permit and not being allowed to have a second vehicle in that parking area. As this matter was not resolved immediately, per the Rule and Regulations for the HOA, a 250.00 fine is being placed on my account. the total comes from the 5 days that car was not moved at $50.00 per day.
Can the HOA bill the homeowner of the property? The first why the HOA didn’t tow away if the vehicle does not have a permit parking on that area?
I ask them to send me evidence to prove the vehicle belongs to my tenants such as a photo, license plate number and so on and they said: This information was received from the board members who saw the ongoing violation.
Please give me some feedback about this issue.
Thx,
Is an HOA allowed to legally say that as a homeowner I am not allowed to have 1 guest at the facilities… basketball courts, tennis courts, because they live within 50 miles of my house. I pay HOA fees and am told I cannot bring a guest that is not from out of town….. I can’t play tennis by myself…..
Hi Shannon,
Every association’s governing documents and policies are different, so there is not one standard answer. We suggest reviewing your association’s amenity rules on guests to see what your association’s rules are. These typically can be found on your association’s website.
I have a quick question. We recently elected a two new Board members. After the meeting, it was discovered that one of the newly elected members is not an owner – her mother is the owner and has dementia. The daughter does have Power of Attorney. We know the daughter can conduct affairs regarding her mother’s unit, but can she join the Board of Director’s on her mother’s behalf. Our docs simply state you must be an owner, to serve. It seems pretty cut and dried to most of us, but there is a homeowner that is challenging this. That homeowner, is not the daughter who was elected and was fine with our decision to dismiss her, but another homeowner. Thank you for any insight on this.
My HOA has a set of board members who elected themselves in 2006 and have not had an ejection since, not meetings… this is more like a dictatorship than an HOA. I’m in Virginia, is this really legal???? We have six units and now the “board” is getting a lawyer and rewriting the CCRs to include fines and the possibility of putting LIENs on homes for violations like “ not picking up dog feces in a timely manner”. Also giving themselves the right to inspect my home!!!!!! Help!!!!!
My HOA require you to get your neighbors signature prior to changing the outside of your home. What if you do not get along with your neighbors. What do you do to make the changes?
We own the land & home in our community in PA. We Have a property owners association. They have cancelled the last 2 board meetings yet as if 2 days ago new by laws were created & amended. They now state that POA members & employees may enter onto properties unannounced in the name of “emergency” issues such as looking water leaks for our community water lines. They also amended our private boat dock laws without any meeting or vote. We paid $17000.00 for a boat slip (POA owns the physical dock but supplied them to the slip owners for a yearly dock fee) now they added a by law that states dock owners may only spend a maximum of 15 minutes on the dock. They are effectively curtailing enjoyment of the dock slips. These slips are a premium & hard to come by as no one parts with them & this upsets the board & propery manager as they all try to allocate available ones for their friends & family in the community.
I live in a community that has an HOA. The landscape company they hired damaged my property while cutting grass. i have contacted the landscaping company myself and they refused to fix the issue and told me to contact the HOA. I emailed the HOA about the situation so that the issue can be resolved and they refuse to get back to me. what do I do about the situation? Shouldn”t the HOA have the landscaping company come back and fix the issue. i believe I shouldn’t have to pay to get this fix
I am being sued by my HOA for non payment. Can they really forclose on my house? I have not payed them because they refuse to fix’s things that are wrong with the outside of my home such as my front porch that is falling apart that is a hazard and my gutters that pour water onto my front porch and make and ice skating rink. Someone is going to fall and get hurt and I”m going to get sued for something they are supposed to cover. Is this enough reason not to pay? They are not covering anything they said they would cover when I bought my home.
My HOA bylaws were never recorded. Are they still enforceable?
My HOA bylaws were never signed or recorded. Are they still enforceable?
Can the residents request another HOA management company or can the residents request this through the board?
We are having problems finding new board members? We are on the board and has been for 5 years, we are moving but know one will come forward. What actions can we do to have some take it over? No one even comes to the meetings.
Is it Legal for an HOA president to replace cluster mailboxes without any notification, or consent from homeowners? Is it then Legal for the postal service to give an HOA president all of the keys to “pass out at her own discretion”? Is it then legal for her to give half of the keys to one of her friends to pass out at his discretion?
Can a Pa. structure their annual assessment so that it is increased by a factor such as the annual US inflation rate as opposed to having the members approve dues increases
One thing I don’t see. A board member violates an architectural article in the CC&Rs even though it is approved by the the ACC committee and by the board. Homeowners are told that on review that the approval sought meets the design aspect of the community. What? But what about the CC&R’s. “Overruled”. Is this legal?????
I was on the board but they had an election. The first one was done without a secret ballot system and the amount of people that voted was 10 we have a fifty unit building shortly less than 30 days management said there was a loophole and they were as to lower the quorum to less than 17? Now we had this election I believe because I had discovered that civil code 5305. I’m in California. Basically a CPA has to do a minimum of a review. After the election I managed to get 5% of the homeowners to request a special meeting its almost 60days with no o response. The day of the election I was able to pass with the other board member to do a review bit unfortunately the CPA was reluctant he wanted to wait till the dust had settled well it has fermented now but it ain’t no fine wine.
I believe there may be fraud, the CFO was on the board much longer than I was and I discovered this civil code after the CEO stepped down mainly because of the CFO. Now I have put a complaint in to the department of justice as well talked to several attorneys. It seems that the HOA if it breaks the CCanRs are more protected. Meaning to hire a lawyer this was the figure for one $5000 retainer and $450 an hour.. If the homeowners win we may recover our attorney fees but we may have to pay ours and if they win theis?
It just seems that this HOA is not following the bylaws or the CCandRs
There are many more things and another one is also the CFO had the management company have homeowners pay per square footage but the CCandRs say “which are to be paid equally by each unit owner to the Association for common expenses as provided herein.”
Trouble and definitely not in paradise
A am in an HOA community that provides a pool for residents. There are many rules regarding the pool including a time for the pool to be open. Allow the times the pool is open is posted and in all of the communication, residents are allowed to swim outside of those hours. There is not a lifeguard. Nothing is done about residents swimming at all hours. Is there any legal obligations of the HOA governing swimming pools and swimming pool safety?
I am curious if the bi laws change, does the HOA have the responsibility of notifying each and every home owner? If you choose not to attend the meetings is that on the home owner?
I recently moved to a villa community with an overly zealous HOA president.
My HOA is expecting me to pay almost $600 for repairs to heads and valves for an irrigation system that are located on common ground and water common ground, but are hooked up to my water supply. I already paid $252 for repairs to the system that waters my front yard within my property. I am only willing to maintain the irrigation system that waters ground on my property, per the survey. The HOA quoted indentures that give owners right of way to certain areas of common ground for systems that “serve” their property. I say the repairs are not my responsibility because those valves and heads do not “serve” my property, and am asking for that portion of the irrigation system to be disconnected from my water supply. I purchased the property recently and was not told my irrigation system was hooked up to water common ground, which is to be maintained by the HOA. Who is liable for the repairs?
I live in MS. The HOA will not allow my 18 or 16 year old children to have guest with them on the common areas. They will low my 21 year old child (who doesnt even live here) to have guests. Isnt this age restriction against FHAA?
5 years ago we purchased a single family house in Illinois. Our daughter was separated and has 3 kids. We live in Texas and we spend much of the summers with her and grandchildren to get away from the hot weather here. The HOA has passed a rule asking personal and private info on owners and tenants. IE: age, gender, autos , plate numbers.and copy of lease. Also background checks on all ages over 18. This seems over the top especially since live the several months a year and don’t write leases for family. Are our privacy rights being violated? Plus they ask for $150 for future admn fees for future B/ G checks checks.
I have a neighbor that rents the townhome attached to mine she has not been here in3/4 years but never the less the house has bad drainage from the gutters and the driveway angles towards the garage the stoop is sinking towards the garage just like the sidewalk . A new downspout and gutters were installed and the downspout points down to the foundation. The garage is sinking and dragging mine .My home is squeaking thru-out. what do you aadvice.
How can I stop the HOA from building something in the common area that is in front of my house
I realize this is probably too late but just saw this and have dealt with it. Check your By Laws and Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions in all the places that address common areas and changes to the association property and the number of votes required for the HOA to make changes. Many associations have governing documents that require a certain percentage of owners to vote to approve changes and some even require that if a significant change is being made to a common area that the directly adjacent owner must approve the change in addition to eh required percentage. Again check your governing documents.
I received a notice of violation from my HOA in connection with the maintenance of my yard with it noting only that I have dead grass (otherwise I have weed control and pay a service for cutting). My Covenants state that “no Lot or other Improvement shall be permitted to become overgrown, unsightly or fall into disrepair”. There is no statement that I must maintain a green lawn and it has been a very dry and hot July and August. As soon as the weather gets better and we get some rain I know the lawn will all come back, so it is not “dead”. I do have an irrigation system, however due to the weather I find it would be a waste of water just to keep it green since it would require possibly daily watering. Is this really a violation?
I recently replaced my Townhouse roof with CertainTeed shingles. My HOA Rules and Regulations require that I should have used 3-tab shingles so they insist that I should replace the newly installed shingles with ones that are in harmony with the other Townhouses in the neighborhood. That will be a hugely added expenses out of my pocket.
Any advice to help me reach a satisfactory solution for both of us?
Our Association is located in Minnesota and or By-Laws are incorporated and registered with the State.
We have a resident who is being very disruptive in her behavior and actions. We have received complaints from other residents/owners about her. The Police have been there twice in the last two weeks.
What can we do besides writer a letter to her? What are our options if she is not the owner, her mother is the actual owner?
I live in a small planned community in NC. We have 20 homes and some undeveloped lots. The developer sold an adjoining lot to a homeowner and promised them that this lot would be kept up our landscaper. The board of directors set the dues which cover landscaping, NOT the developer. The other residents that have very small lots are angry. We all think that these residents should have to pay an extra assessment if they want the association to provide landscaping for this extra lot. They are threatning to take the Board of Directors to court. What can we do?
Hello,
My neighbor has three kids and they set up a basketball hoop in the common area. The kids are so noisy and they play the basketball during the days and late nights(11 PM). The noise is unbearable. After playing it, they run the stairs. Since we live in a townhome, the walls are thin and it really affects my health. What should I do?
My developer failed to file hoa declaration of covenants rules and restrictions. He just realized and also wants all townhouse owners to sign a new one ASAP.
What next?
Is it legal?
Can we take ownership of HOA?
Does it have to be a vote before he makes sign?
I am the President of a small four-unit HOA in Southern California. Five years ago we
voted to assess dues by a purely square footage method. The motion passed 4-0.
One of our current owners who has been here four years, states that the ambiguous
and very old CC&Rs (1994) states that dues must be assessed equally.
Does the motion that passed five years ago to assess by square footage supersede
anything in the CC&Rs? We never made a formal amendment to the CC&Rs due to
cost and the age of the CC&Rs.
Thanks.
I bought a 2nd story villa. The people down below are snowbirds. I was not advised that they were very heavy smokers. We did not realise the full extent this would have on us. Their second and third hand smoke is absolutely awful. It is coming up into our home, through electrical outlets, floors, and closets. We have reported it the property management and the HOA. They are all very apathetic towards this problem. I even have a letter from my doctor explaining that after radiation for breast cancer I have a damaged lung. Apathy is the only way I can describe their response. What can I do?
I am on the covenants committee for a tiny, new construction home neighborhood. CCRs are very broad and reasonable (well maintained home and yard, no junk vehicles, no trash, must have committee approval before making exterior modifications, etc). We have some difficult people in our neighborhood who want to impose a bunch of very restrictive rules on home owners (we are single family homes). For example they want to mandate a certain type of window blind has to be installed because some people have small curtains in their front windows and one house has a room decorated in a style consistent with the homeowners heritage (they are recent immigrants). The rules and regs part of the declaration is vague, saying anything that affects appearance of the property can be affected by rules and regulations as long as it isnt inconsistent with the rest of the document. Should an HOA impose rules on interior window coverings if it isnt mentioned anywhere in the declaration and the declaration is entirely exterior focused? Because I get the feeling these people really dont like how the homeowner decorated their home and after the desired curtains or blinds are imposed, next will be other decorative restrictions on front facing rooms. Please advise. TY
What is the role of the CC&R committee in regards to violation fines and adding fees for HOA dues?
my condominium association file a demand for presuit mediation in court because i modified my landscaping in from of my house landscaping changing some portion of the grass for pavers block with sand under for draining do to lack of parking space around the complex now they sending me to the court because they claiming the i change part of the structure in my property and they taking to court for these. my question is are they allowed to do that
Can I add a door in one of my hallways? do I need permission from my HOA?
I put a printed sign on my front door(laser printed black and white 8.5 *11 inches) yesterday saying “Wash you hands for 30 seconds when entering my home” Today the HOA General manager called me saying to remove the sign. We are in the middle of the COVID 19 Pandemic. And this is a problem putting a piece of paper taped to my front door. I bit my tongue. Took the sign off my front door.